OL Jacob Gannon has left the ISU program

[Tedcyclone]

No I am saying that I am not about to struggle through an incredibly difficult major if I would never be using those skills.

So if he went to the NFL he would never use any other learned skills? Yes I assume Jacob Gannon had a real chance at a 20 year pro career! Dir, he wasnt going to the NFL... Your avatar is as weird as this post.

 

[Incyte]

I can't think of any other situation in life where you would be expected to stick with a failing organization when you much better, much more profitable options. Jacob got 4 years of tuition, and played 4 years of football. He doesn't owe anyone anything. I just don't know why we all expect him to sink with the ship when he has a promising future ahead of him, given his academic distinctions.

He made a commitment to play football at ISU this year. He made that commitment to the coaches and his teammates.

His actions speak loudly to his character.

 

[IcSyU]

Isn't it the case that ISU will continue to pay for his schooling, but that it will no longer count as one of the 85 scholarships? (Or I could be way off).

It still counts as a scholarship.

 

[Me State]

Maybe this will be the event that causes the team to come together as one and decide they want to give 100% at all times and prove how good they really are.


Or they may implode....

 

[FanatiClone]

Let's say it's Saturday night, and you have the option of going to a party or seeing a movie. If you choose the movie, and an hour into it you realize it's the worst movie ever made, do you stick around for the remaining hour? Many people would say "well, I already paid for the movie, I might as well stay". A more rational person would say "well, I'm already out the $10 I paid for a ticket (a sunk cost), I might as well leave and go to that party instead."

Same thing with this kid. It doesn't matter how long he's been with the team or how many hours of practice he's gone through; those are sunk costs that aren't recoverable, and should have no bearing on whether he wants to stay with the team for the remainder of the season.

Bad example. In leaving a movie, no one else is affected by the departure.

 

[jburke]

It was a Lucca reference you idiots.

So we just got 'LUCCA-ed'???

 

[CycloneGB]

It was a Lucca reference you idiots.

Lucca converted to French when he left too..

 

[im4cyclones]

First, I hope everything is okay for him and this is nothing serious.

While Rhoads can't necessarily control what an individual player does, player retention has been the Achilles heel of his program. For whatever reason, it seems like there are a lot of guys just walk away from the program. Gannon, Collin Bevins and Branden Jensen - who thankfully came back out - are three of the more recent ones I can think of quickly. Throw in guys who transfer out or are kicked off and the list is pretty lengthy.

 

[Clonefan32]

It's a shame that the young man quit the team, but I don't see the event being anything more or less than it has been described. A personal choice by a young man who has been on the team for 5 years. 5 years is a long time to commit to something that absolutely dominates every aspect of your life. I get that people are disappointed that the young man didn't fulfill his commitment to play until the very last snap, but his priorities changed and he lost his desire to play.

I do believe that he should be held financially responsible for the last semester of his education as it was his choice to quit, but I hold no animosity towards him for that choice. Bad timing to be sure, but I am certain that he had expressed some of these doubts and concerns before now and had probably been persuaded to try and stick it out. Probably also hoping that the thrill of the competition might help reignite his passion for the game. It didn't seem to, and he is now gone.

I'm sure no one on this board criticizing his decision has ever quit anything they started and has fulfilled each and every obligation they have ever taken on to its very end successfully. Casting the first stone and all of that. There has seemingly been a series of unfortunate events around the football program the last few years and it sucks to lose a seasoned player in a position that we would like to retain some depth in, but there is a ton in life more important than playing a game on Saturdays and if this decision by Jacob helps him accomplish some of those goals outside of football more quickly and fully then more power to him. And best of luck to you young man thank you for your efforts on and off the field these past 5 years.

But...But... Judas! Brutus! A regular Benedict Arnold!

 

[CycloneErik]

I doubt Mangino would be "going off" on the defense. No one would allow that. Maybe Shane is taking on new level of leadership? Sounds very odd. That part of the story seemed to have something missing or be a bit 'off' in some way. I have my doubts about the veracity of this "rumor" in part and nearly in it's entirety. Too much of a "Ferris fainted at 31 flavors" ring to it.

Dude. Ferris is on his deathbed. Way too soon.
I heard it from that one guy in the hall.

 

[roundball]

Bad example. In leaving a movie, no one else is affected by the departure.

Self-interested individuals aren't concerned with who else is affected by their decisions except in the way it affects them in turn (and there's nothing wrong with acting out of self-interest).

 

[CykoAGR]

Safe to say ISU wont win the Superbowl this year (unless you count that one against Iowa, and even that is a loooooooong shot).

 

[RubyClone]

I doubt Mangino would be "going off" on the defense. No one would allow that. Maybe Shane is taking on new level of leadership? Sounds very odd. That part of the story seemed to have something missing or be a bit 'off' in some way. I have my doubts about the veracity of this "rumor" in part and nearly in it's entirety. Too much of a "Ferris fainted at 31 flavors" ring to it.

yep. 2 turnovers, I don't know how many 3 and outs (we had 3 in a row at one point), and putting up 14 miserable points against a AA school. Mark has plenty to keep him occupied.

 

[FanatiClone]

Self-interested individuals aren't concerned with who else is affected by their decisions except in the way it affects them in turn (and there's nothing wrong with acting out of self-interest).

Thats kind of a problem when you've committed yourself to something beyond self interest, and accepted the rewards (cost free education) of doing so.

 

[Bret44]

It isn't the fact he left, it is WHEN he left. I don't care if you are sick of football, make that choice 3 weeks ago. He just quit on his teammates. A senior starter up and quits while the team is facing this: two days before playing the #20 team in the country, a coach who is losing the faith of the fan base, and a team that is desperate for a win. It is a big, big problem for the staff and the team.

 

[RubyClone]

Have we dismissed the idea that perhaps something personal actually has happened?

 

[im4cyclones]

Let's say it's Saturday night, and you have the option of going to a party or seeing a movie. If you choose the movie, and an hour into it you realize it's the worst movie ever made, do you stick around for the remaining hour? Many people would say "well, I already paid for the movie, I might as well stay". A more rational person would say "well, I'm already out the $10 I paid for a ticket (a sunk cost), I might as well leave and go to that party instead."

Same thing with this kid. It doesn't matter how long he's been with the team or how many hours of practice he's gone through; those are sunk costs that aren't recoverable, and should have no bearing on whether he wants to stay with the team for the remainder of the season.

Let's say you are fighting a battle in war. It isn't going very well and your lines are getting pushed back. Do you just lay down your weapon and run to the back, leaving your brothers-in-arms on their own? Yes, that is an extreme example but makes about as much sense as you comparing it to going to the movies.

 

[bawbie]

It isn't the fact he left, it is WHEN he left. I don't care if you are sick of football, make that choice 3 weeks ago. He just quit on his teammates. A senior starter up and quits while the team is facing this: two days before playing the #20 team in the country, a coach who is losing the faith of the fan base, and a team that is desperate for a win. It is a big, big problem for the staff and the team.

this This THIS THIS!!

 

[roundball]

Thats kind of a problem when you've committed yourself to something beyond self interest, and accepted the rewards (cost free education) of doing so.

The kid owes nothing to anyone but himself. It's not a one way street...he's been given a free education and in return has devoted countless hours to Iowa State football, helped generate millions of dollars in revenue, and provided four years of entertainment to thousands of fans.

 

[Cyclophile1]

It isn't the fact he left, it is WHEN he left. I don't care if you are sick of football, make that choice 3 weeks ago. He just quit on his teammates. A senior starter up and quits while the team is facing this: two days before playing the #20 team in the country, a coach who is losing the faith of the fan base, and a team that is desperate for a win. It is a big, big problem for the staff and the team.

Yes, exactly. The team really needed him to get this figured out sometime in fall camp, the earlier the better. He's leaving his teammates and the staff in the lurch in a big way. This is the time when you hope guys would dig deep and fight for their friends and their leaders. It's another body blow to a team and program, really, that's at least on the ropes if not sniffing the canvas.